Thanksgiving weekend a deer ran into the side of my S. So now I'm trying to get it fixed. I called the insurance people and they had me see an adjuster. That went ok. He gave me his paper work and estimate. So I've been to two different body shops wanting estimates for myself. Both places wanted to see what the adjuster gave me. All the info which includes what there writing me a check for. I don't understand why they need to know? I feel like they want to know so they can charge me the maximum. I didn't even bring it up. They ask me each time. I'm I just paranoid? Do they really need that information? I'm going back to a shop tomorrow to discuss an estimate and again they wanted me to bring the papers the adjuster gave me. What gives?

 

.. lie to them and say this is the first shop you're going through and you have yet to talk to the insurance company.. you want to see how much its going to cost first? something along those lines.

 

i ran into the same problem,....i was trying to get an idea on what shops were going to do to my car,....some doing more work than others, etc etc. one shop wouldnt even look at my car until they have an estimate from an adjuster. they ended up telling me it was to negotiate a better estimate with the people cutting the check to them. the shop didnt want to get screwed with a 5,000 bill when the insurance says its only 4300.
best advice is to take it to one of the shops in the preferred network with the insurance you are with

 

Because most body shops will work directly off the insurance estimate. That way if they run into any additional damage they can call back the insurance company for a supplement. This way you only pay your deductible and the bill comes out to the same the insurance is going to pay you. If you don't give the insurance estimate the price is more than likely going to be more than what the insurance company gave you.